Brazilian trans activists are receiving English classes from Biden’s State Department.

Biden Administration Partners with Radical Advocacy Group to Teach English to Brazilian Trans Activists

Background

The Biden administration has partnered with the Brazilian transgender activist group ANTRA and Georgetown University to teach English to 26 trans community activists from across Brazil. The 14-week basic English course aims to provide participants with English-language skills to communicate and advocate for their community, as well as increase their chances of entering the job market. The initiative is part of a larger push by the State Department to fund training programs for transgender communities around the world.

ANTRA’s Advocacy

ANTRA produces reports on violence against transgender people and advocates for transgender-related issues. The organization has lobbied for expanded access to hormone therapy for gender-questioning children, transgender participation in women’s sports, and transgender access to women-only bathrooms and changing rooms. However, on social media, ANTRA has claimed that all non-transgender people are transphobic, slammed “cis feminists” for allegedly contributing to anti-trans violence, and defended a transgender person who threatened to assault a black woman in a university bathroom.

Controversy

ANTRA’s controversial statements have sparked criticism. The group has claimed that “every cis person is transphobic” and that “cis people do not have the emotional maturity to receive criticism for their transphobic practices.” ANTRA has also criticized “cis women” for putting the trans community “in constant danger.” In addition, ANTRA argued that a woman who questioned a transgender person in a women’s bathroom should pay reparations to the trans community. The group claimed that “the cis black woman is the aggressor and must be held accountable for her actions.”

Conclusion

While the State Department’s initiative to teach English to Brazilian trans activists aims to provide them with valuable skills, the partnership with ANTRA has sparked controversy due to the organization’s radical advocacy and controversial statements. It remains to be seen how effective the program will be and how much it will cost American taxpayers.